[Wakshaani]

Waaay back in... '89? '90? The talk was that there were twelve Great Dragons, period. That changed heavily when Germany dropped, but ... it always struck me as an interesting concept that there's a hard limit on how many Greats there can be and that, once that number's full, you have to bump off someone to move up.

Shadowrun first edition published in 1989 and set in 2049 listed as "known great dragons" only seven (Aden, Dunkelzahn, Hualpa, Lofwyr, Lung, Ryumyo and Sirrurg). London Sourcebook was the first in 1991 to expand the list with three more great dragons in Wales (Rhonabwy, the Sea Dragon and Celedyr).

Yup, then the Germany sourcebook added several more in Germany and the race, as they say, was on.

[Prime Mover]

I've always thought Chikoaze and Inti Jiwana The rumored eastern and feathered serpent behind Aztecs blood magic cyber zombie program where among the greats. (Mentioned in augmentation)

[Tarislar]

Waaay back in... '89? '90? The talk was that there were twelve Great Dragons, period. That changed heavily when Germany dropped, but ... it always struck me as an interesting concept that there's a hard limit on how many Greats there can be and that, once that number's full, you have to bump off someone to move up.

Shadowrun first edition published in 1989 and set in 2049 listed as "known great dragons" only seven (Aden, Dunkelzahn, Hualpa, Lofwyr, Lung, Ryumyo and Sirrurg). London Sourcebook was the first in 1991 to expand the list with three more great dragons in Wales (Rhonabwy, the Sea Dragon and Celedyr).

Where is the idea of only 12 from?

All I can find is what Nath quoted in the 1E-CBR & that is talking about known in the Media & Confirmed as Greats. 

So lots of room for unknowns, newly awakened, &/or not Confirmed as Great.

For example Arleesh came along in Bottled Demon Scenario book as well & its said she awoke later-ish.

[Reaver]

If I remember correctly (and I am probably thinking of another dragon)

Arleesh was a regular dragon that metamorphed into a Great, through what was explained as the natural cycle of Dragons....(there were snippets from other Greats welcoming Arleesh to the Great circle)


Which means there is an in canon reason for other Greats to appear. The Dragon 'Grows Up'.

[MijRai]

That was Masaru who 'recently' became a Great Dragon.  He's currently the only dragon to have undergone the apotheosis to become a Great Dragon in the 6th World, if I remember right.

Arleesh started the 6th World that way.

[Reaver]

That was Masaru who 'recently' became a Great Dragon.  He's currently the only dragon to have undergone the apotheosis to become a Great Dragon in the 6th World, if I remember right.

Arleesh started the 6th World that way.

Yea.... thought I was confused on the name of the dragon.

Marasru, philippines uprising, yep.

But it/he/she/ze/they/we/our/xyz (and whatever other craptastic pronoun twitter has made this week for sexual identity) still transformed into a great.... so it can happen (if the writers need an other Great to screw over the man )

[MijRai]

I vote Pobre; a Great Toxic Avenger Dragon would do nicely, eh? 

[Mirikon]

I vote for Deus in Eliohann's body!

[Rosa]

I've always thought Chikoaze and Inti Jiwana The rumored eastern and feathered serpent behind Aztecs blood magic cyber zombie program where among the greats. (Mentioned in augmentation)

I vote for this to be confirmed coz ze Azzies are such nice bad guys....or Denairastas showing up. 

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

I vote for a corrupted Great at the core of Aztechnology that Arleesh finally finds out about and Pulls Strings in order to get an individual-specific Omega Order against - Art Dankwalther being the precedence, and two Great Dragons on AAA corporate boards agreeing with her.

Arleesh, however, was supposedly 'young' for a Great Dragon - by which it was likely meant that she'd become a Great Dragon only a few hundred years before the end of the 4th World.  Masaru, of course, is the first (and so far only) adult dragon to have achieved Great Dragon status in the 6th World.

[Rosa]

Arleesh and Mujaji seems to me to be the most underused greats of all of them, which is a shame. But if they truly did put a corrupted great at the core of Aztechnology and revealed it, then i would hope that they would keep it alive and well for a long time since it woud a great "supervillain". Which is also the reason that i was somewhat disapointed that they killed of Alamais 

[Crimsondude]

I think too many Great Dragons are actually overused and too powerful, myself, and Arleesh and Mujaji are adequately used given the circumstances and their domains. However, my opinions are my own.

[Rosa]

I think too many Great Dragons are actually overused and too powerful, myself, and Arleesh and Mujaji are adequately used given the circumstances and their domains. However, my opinions are my own.

I'm curious, which ones do you consider overused and too powerful?

[Mirikon]

Well, the four (living) Great Dragons that come to mind as being most active in 4th and 5th are Hestaby, Lofwyr, Celedyr, and Sirrurg. Lofwyr because anything involving SK involves Lofwyr eventually. Hestaby and Sirrurg for the dragon civil war. Celedyr for the whole CFD thing. The only times we've actually seen GDs going out and actually doing things, rather than behind the scenes fun, is the assault on Alamais's base, Hestaby attacking SK's middle east HQ, and Sirrurg being Sirrurg in Aztlan. Oh, and Ghostwalker and Harlequin going mano-a-mano in downtown Denver.

[Shaidar]

The proposed sustenance needs of (Great) Dragons might be an over-estimation if you consider their magical nature. Some Dragons have been known to teach magical techniques to metahumans, might Dragons then have a natural version of the Nutrition/Sustenance spell within their biology.